Organisations, movements and members

Church -

• large
• millions of members
• few demands on members
• bureaucratic hierarchy 
• linked to the state
• claim a monopoly of truth
• are universalistic 

Sect 

• small
• demands real commitment 
• hostile to wider society
• recruit poor and oppressed
• charismatic leadership
• believe they have a monopoly of religious truth 

Denomination and cult -

• denomination midway between churches and sects
• membership is less exclusive 
• accept society's values 
• not linked to the state
• minor restrictions 
• not as demanding as sects and are tolerant of other religions 
• cults are least organized 
• they are highly individualistic, small, loose-knit grouping without sharp defined belief system

New religious movements -

World rejecting NRM - 

• a clear notion of God
• highly critical of outside world and expect radical change 
• members must break away from former life
• live communally
• have restricted contact with outside world
• movement controls all aspects of their life

World accommodating NRM -

• Breakaways from other churches
• neither accept or reject the world 
• focus on religion rather than world matters
• members tend to lead normal lives

World affirming NRM -

• lack conventional features of religion 
• offers followers access to spiritual or supernatural powers
• accept the world as it is
• promises members success in their goals 
• Followers are usually customers rather than members

Sects and Cults -

stark and Bainbridge argue that just one criterion is needed to distinguish between religious organizations - the degree of tension between the group and wider society. Two kinds of organizations that are in conflict with wider society - sects & cults.

Sects - results from splits from existing organizations breaking away and offering otherworldly benefits to those suffering economic or ethical deprivation

Cults - are new religions or ones that have been imported, they offer worldly benefits to individuals suffering psychic or health deprivation.

Stark and Bainbridge subdivide cults according to how organized they are -

1. Audience cults - least organized, no formal membership, little interaction

2.client cults - a consultant/client relationship/therapies

3.cultic movements - more organized, exclusivist, high levels of commitment, claiming to meet all their member's religious needs.

Explaining the growth of religious movements -

Several explanations have been offered for the rapid growth of sects and cults since the 1960s:

Marginality - Weber - sects appeal to disprivileged groups who are marginal to society

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